The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-22
THE FLOODS!
REPORTS as to the Condition Of the
Roads in Every Direction.
snp River Bridge in Danger Asain-The
Muddy Bridge Washed Away-FIoosIs
and Bad Roads Everywhere
Coaches Delayed.
THE HELENA ROAD.

I1E HELENA ROAD.
The Helena coach due here the night Of
me 18th did not arrive untilF riday morn
Inc at O'Clock. The delay was caused
by the floods in all the small streams and
eouIees that for a time were impossible.
Mr.. wv. f. Bliss, II. S. mail contractor,
was a passenger, and to him we are in
debtel for information concerning the
condition of affairs along the road. The
coach left Helena Tuesday morning, but
on account Of the heavy rains and swollen
streams did not reach Sun River until yes
terday morning. The bridge was stand
ing all right, and the coach crossed safely;
butt shortly afterwards few feet of this
end of the bridge went out, caused by the
washing of the bank about the abutment.
The river was still rising and should it
get high enough to touch the stringers the
t0rce of the current and the accumulation
If drift wood may carry the bridge off the
piers. At Reinicke's place the water was
standing even with the door step, and the
stage barn was flooded. At the Muddy
the bridge is gone and transfer had to be
made in boats. Contractor Nj. E. Root is
on the road and giving his personal atten-
ton to pushing the mails through as fast
as circumstances will admit. He is spar
ing neither labor nor expense and is work
ing like a beaver himself to keep the
coaches moving. Mr.. David Dayis, the
road supervisor for that district, is also
present and lending his valuable aid to
get the road in passable shape as soon as
possible. He says that the Sun river
bridge will be Immediately repaired, and
that the crossing Of the Muddy can be eff
fected as soon as the waters subside.
THE FORT AssINNIBoINE ROAD.
The Assinniboine mail arrived Thursday
night, having been transferred to a light
SPRING wagon at the Marias, the driver
iaying his coach there. He found the
road in such horrible condition that he
this morning took the mail out on horse
back. He says that there are terrible
Washouts on the hill going out of Benton,
at Whalen's hill and at the Cracon-du-
Nez, and that all the places will need re-
pairs Immediately.
FLOODLETs.
Mr.. j.. w. Peck came in town Thursday
night at o'clock, having just returned
from his ranch at Nine Mile coulee. He
states that the heavy rain of the night of
the 18th caused the water to flow through
the coulee to a depth of at least twenty feet.
The curbing from around the well was
swept away. Had it not been for the wa
ter making a new outlet for itself it would
have come into the house.
The Shonkin is higher than it has ever
been known to be before ana it is feared
that the ranchmen along the valley will
suffer considerable damage. Will Morrow
tells us that ut his place the creek has
spread all over the valley. His grain
fields are flooded and his potatoes and
other vegetables are washed out complete
ly. While the grain is broken down he is |
hopeful that ii will rise again when the |
water subsidies.
Mr.. Geo. d. Patterson informs US that
he is in receipt of a letter from his sister,
Mrs. Lieut. Thies, of Fort Shaw, which |
gives an account of very destructive |
hail storm that struck that place on the
night of the 18th inst. It appeared to
have originated in the immediate neigh
Oorhood and did not extend very far.
But at the fort every window light that
was exposed to its fury was broken. Up t
ON counting up it was found that 300
window lights had been smashed. Mr..
lines house suffered severely in this re-
spect.
."hlie the Teton is booming we are in
4oflled that it is not as high as it often
Rets at this season of the year. No par
0cular damage has been done to the
fahchmen in the valley, save to carry
away some of their fences.
gentleman who came down the coulee
on the opposite side OF the river says that
me grade is badly washed out in one place
ahd that the small bridge that was about
nall way between the head and mouth of
lae eoulee is gone and its timbers wash ed
ior long distance and scattered here and
mere. This road is badly needed every
oour in the day, and we hope our road
"nmissioner will give it his earliest at
teation.
The little bridge in Government coalee I
y washed out. /
Inc shonkin bridge near Mr.. Morrow's /
place has been ignominiously left. Dur
'ns 'he ice gorge this spring the stream /,
eollmenced to cut new channel on the /
os'ef side Of the bridge; and now the I
eleek has taken the new channel altogeth- |
d. aaa ieft the bridge with nothing to do. ,
u.s., @e would suggest the wayward creek be /
,' ,a@ue 70 run under the bridge whether it t
wants to Or NOT. :
Mr.. G.. Fl Ra.i, ,,,h